Thanks, Johnners: An Affectionate Tribute to a Broadcasting Legend Book

Jonathan Agnew, known to his legions of Test Match Special fans as "Aggers," has at long last written a personal tribute to his late colleague Brian Johnston, universally known as "Johnners." The on-air incident in which Agnew's comment on Ian Botham's attempt to avoid stepping on his stumps—"He just couldn't quite get his leg over"—provoked prolonged fits of giggles, notably from Johnners, and was voted in a BBC poll as "the greatest piece of sporting commentary ever" by 75% of those who responded. It is said that traffic on British motorways came to a complete standstill as commuters were forced to stop their cars due to fits of laughter while listening to it on Radio Four. This book is an affectionate account of a four-year friendship, including copious anecdotes from their time together in the commentary box and during their travels overseas. Jonathan Agnew comments: "Brian Johnston was a tremendous influence on my early years at Test Match Special. His wit, warmth, and great sense of fun was not only a feature of his cricket commentary, but also in the way he lived his life. Our friendship has been immortalized through the "leg over" incident, but there was a much deeper bond between us than merely that hilarious broadcasting classic, and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to share this with cricket lovers everywhere." Aggers on Johnners is the holy grail of cricket books, a must-have for anyone who loves the noble game.